What You Should Know About Night Blindness

If you struggle to see while driving at night, you may have night blindness. Night blindness, or nyctalopia, is the inability to see well at night or in dim lighting. It is not considered an eye disease itself, but rather a symptom of an underlying problem.

Causes of Night Blindness

Night blindness can result from several conditions, including:

• Vitamin A Deficiency — Vitamin A is essential for rhodopsin, a protein that enables vision in low-light conditions.
• Cataracts — A buildup of protein that clouds the eye’s lens, impairing vision especially in poor lighting.
• Diabetic Retinopathy — Damage to the eyes’ blood vessels and nerves can result in difficulty seeing at night.
• Glaucoma — Increased pressure in the eye damages the optic nerve; glaucoma medications can also contribute to night blindness.
• Myopia — Nearsightedness causes blurry distance vision and can produce a starburst effect around lights at night.
• Keratoconus — An irregularly shaped cornea causes blurred vision and light sensitivity, particularly at night.
• Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) — A progressive genetic eye disease that leads to night blindness and peripheral vision loss.

Symptoms

If you notice that you don’t see as well in dim light as you once did, contact your eye doctor promptly. Symptoms include reduced contrast sensitivity, difficulty seeing at night while driving, trouble adjusting from bright to dark areas, and excessive squinting at night.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Vitamin A deficiency can be addressed with supplements; myopia can be corrected with glasses or contacts. Other conditions may require medication or surgery.

If you experience poor vision at night or in dim lighting, contact Miamisburg Vision Care in Miamisburg to schedule your appointment today.